Heritage to Offer Stan Musial Collection in October

Just two days away from its Aug. 1 Platinum Night Auction, Heritage Auctions created more headlines with the news it will offer the Stan Musial Collection in October.

The family of Hall of Famer and St. Louis Cardinals great Stan “The Man” Musial have chosen Heritage Auctions to offer The Stan Musial Collection, more than 500 lots of never-before-offered milestone game-used treasures, correspondence and mementos from Musial’s personal collection, as the centerpiece of its October Signature catalog auction.

“Stan Musial was known as ‘Baseball’s Perfect Knight’ for good reason,” said Chris Ivy, director of Sports Auctions at Heritage. “His incredible talent and humility on the field influenced his beloved status off, which endures to this day. His legacy will be celebrated in this auction and the top collectors will finally have a chance to acquire some of the things that meant the most to him from his storied career.”

Heritage Auctions will be exhibiting highlights of the collection at its booth, No. 818, at the National Sports Collectors Convention, July 31-Aug. 4, in Chicago.

“This will be the first look that collectors will get at the collection,” said Ivy, “and we expect the response to be substantial since Musial’s popularity was nationwide. The Musial family has never offered any of Stan’s memorabilia at auction before, though they have donated substantial pieces to museum collections. This is a historic moment in baseball collecting associated with one of the greatest to ever play the game.”

Some of the Musial treasures that will be offered for the first time include, but are not limited to: Milestone baseballs including Musial’s 1,000th, 2000th and 3,200th hit baseballs; several rings including a 2004 St. Louis Cardinals National League Championship Ring presented to Musial; a 2006 St. Louis Cardinals World Series Ring presented to Musial and a 2011 St. Louis Cardinals World Series Ring presented to Musial.

Historic correspondence and autographs including: Ty Cobb letter written to Musial on the subject of hitting; Babe Ruth signed baseball personally given to Stan Musial as a minor leaguer; Branch Rickey letter to Musial regarding his importance to baseball and many presidential items signed and personalized to Musial.

Important game-used gear will include Musial’s 1946 Navy baseball uniform, as well as St. Louis Cardinals game-used material.